Joybar: Iran’s Wrestling Capital

Every wrestling country has a state, region or province where wrestling is king. In Russia it could be Dagestan or Chechnya; in America, Iowa or Pennsylvania.

In Iran -- a country wild about wrestling -- several provinces could stake a claim to regional dominance. But for the past several years Mazandaran has generated the most consistent stream of dominant wrestlers, and in 2013 not only was the region responsible for some heroes, but specifically the small town of Joybar.

Last month in Budapest the Iranian freestyle wrestling team won their first world championship since 2002. As the country rejoiced, a quirky reality came to light: Of the five Iranian medalists, three were from the town of Joybar, an enclave with a total population of only 27,000.

Like many parts of Iran, the first sport in Joybar isn’t football, basketball or even volleyball. Joybar’s sport, its passion, is wrestling. In fact, Joybar is the only town in Iran (maybe in the world?) with a town center named after the great sport: ""Wrestling Square.""

Joybari wrestlers represented Iran freestyle wrestling team in four weight categories of seven in 2013 World Championships. Reza Yazdani, one of the most famous wrestlers in Iran, won gold medal at 96kg and was lavished with praise by the locals, treating the four-time world medalist like a diety. His nickname is ""Palang-e- Joybar,"" meaning the “Leopard of Joybar.”

As popular as Yazdani has become over the years, he is not the only famous wrestler from Joybar. EzatollahAkbari won the 74kg silver medal at this year’s championships – earning him a reputation as a phenomenon of the Iranian team and among the wrestling community in Joybar. Though he wouldn’t win gold, his heroic performance against the unbeaten American champion, Jordan Burroughs was the highlights of the finals.

And still there are more champions from Joybar. Masoud Esmaeilpour – a two-time Junior World Champion -- bagged a bronze medal in 60kg weight class in Budapest 2013. Also, Komeil Ghasemi is another Joybar born wrestler. He was crowned as the bronze medalist of 2012 Olympic Games though failed to win 2013 world title at 120kg weight class.

The rise of these Joybar wrestlers is not a coincidence, but the consequence of good coaching and proper training. Masoud Esmaeilpour’s father is the coach for the Joybar and has enjoyed World Champions every year since 2002, when his wrestler Mehdi Hajizadeh captured 74kg gold medal in World Championships – the same year Iran last won the freestlye team title. Joybar’s response to that medal resulted in the naming of the local wrestling hall ""Mehdi Hajizadeh” in honor of the wrestler’s remarkable performance.

After shining in Budapest, The champions returned home and received a hero welcome from people in Joybar. After 11 years, Iran is once again the World Champion in freestyle wrestling and the Joybari wrestlers played a major role in helping secure that championship.